Minnesota House Passes Comprehensive Firearms Reform But Senate Companion Bill Still Needs Your Help

Please contact your state Senator TODAY!

Yesterday, the Minnesota House was hard at work.  Important comprehensive firearms reform legislation, House File 1467, passed in the House by a 79 to 50 vote, but its companion bill, Senate File 1357, still needs to be voted on by the full Senate.  SF 1357 has already passed in the Senate Finance Committee by a 8 to 6 vote and is currently on the Senate Floor Calendar awaiting a vote.

Minnesota’s 2011 legislative session is nearly over and this bill must pass before Monday, May 23 in order to have a chance of becoming law this year.   The anti-gun forces are using every means possible to keep HF 1467 and SF 1357 from passing and becoming law, so it is imperative that you call and e-mail your state Senator urging him or her to support SF 1357 when it comes to the Senate floor for a vote.  Contact information for your state Senator can be found here.

Please forward this alert to your family, friends and fellow gun owners and urge them to also contact their state Senator in support of SF 1357.

SF 1357 contains three important firearm policy improvements:

Stand Your Ground:
SF 1357 would remove a person’s “duty to retreat” from an attacker, allowing law-abiding citizens to stand their ground and protect themselves or their family anywhere they are lawfully present.  It would create a presumption that an individual who forcefully or stealthily enters or attempts to enter your home or vehicle is there to cause substantial or great bodily injury or death, so the occupant may use force, including deadly force, against that individual.  It would also expressly allow an individual to use force, including deadly force, to prevent a forcible felony, and it provides protections against criminal prosecution and civil lawsuits when justifiable force is used.

Universal Recognition:
Currently, Minnesotans’ carry permits are only valid in fifteen states.  Unfortunately, Minnesota’s Department of Public Safety has not sought out any additional reciprocity agreements.  By adding the proposed language, Minnesota will recognize every state that offers a carry permit and drastically improve Minnesotans’ abilities to carry in other states.  The proposed language would also require Minnesota’s Department of Public Safety to enter in to reciprocity agreements.

Emergency Powers Reform:
The proposed language would prohibit any government agency from confiscating or regulating the lawful possession, carrying, transfer, transportation and defensive use of firearms or ammunition during a state of emergency, such as occurred in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, Louisiana.